We Made It!

CESO's country representative for the Philippines, Mat Navalta, had let Ron and I know that he was having his assistant Robert pick us up as he would already be in Sorsogon. We were to pick up our luggage and then proceed to the arrivals area. I looked around and couldn't see anyone with a CESO sign. Hmm...I saw a couple of guys I thought may be Ron, because they looked like they were lost and looking for someone as well. Turns out neither was Ron.

Maybe Robert wasn't there yet? Now what? After about 10 minutes I asked someone and they told me to go to the other arrivals area. The other arrivals area? Okay, so I went outside, across the street and down the ramp to the other arrivals area. There was a huge crowd of people and I was sure I would never find Robert, but within a couple of minutes he spotted me.





Robert, after finding me at Manila International Airport...





Ron had arrived a bit earlier and was enroute to the hotel. Once the driver returned I was on my way.

As I walked into the lobby, Ron was just stepping out of the elevator. We chatted for a few minutes and then decided to try and get some sleep before heading to Legaspi the next morning.

Thursday morning (June 28)...

Our scheduled pick up was set for 10am, so Ron and I met for breakfast beforehand where we were able to get to know each other a bit. He has over 35 years experience in the hotel industry and has held various positions in hotels in a few different countries, including the start up of a new hotel in Perth, Australia - right from the first shovel hitting the dirt to its' grand. For the past 10 years he's been an instructor teaching about the hotel and hospitality industry.

10am - Robert came to get us and drive us back to the airport. Our flight was at 1pm, by around 2 we had arrived in Legaspi. There Mat Navalta was waiting for us, as well as Leah Pagao and Jacqueline Mance from DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and Milagros Duana, owner of the Rizal Beach Resort.

The view arriving at Legaspi airport. Legaspi is the closest airport to Sorsogon City. It's actually located in Albay province, not Sorsogon province

Mat Navalta, Leah Pagao (Provincial Director of DTI), myself and Ron.

The 4 hotels we are assisting have created an association called the 'Hotel and Resort Operators of Sorsogon'.

Fernando's - Sorsogon City
Woodland Beach Resort - Donsol
Rizal Beach Resort - Gubat
Bacon Beach Resort - Bacon

They are hoping to have other local hotels join the association as well, realizing that working collectively as a group puts them in a stronger position to lobby the local government units for support in their common goal of increasing tourism in the Sorsogon region.

Arriving in Sorsogon City...

It was just over an hour from Legaspi to Sorsogon City. Luckily we had air conditioning because the heat was almost unbearable. Probably near the mid-thirties plus humidity. We arrive at Fernando's Hotel to the warm welcome of the owner Cecilia Duran.

Cecilia Duran, Milagros Duana and Mat

After settling in, we hold a meeting to discuss the workplan. It was decided that Ron and I would work at opposite hotels. Ron is here for about 6 weeks, so he will be spending one week at each of the hotels, in addition to holding several workshops. As I am only here for 3 weeks, my schedule is much shorter. I will spend 2 days per hotel and then will hold a 3 part Customer Service Workshop. Then I will head back to Manila for one night, meet up with Mat who will return later today, and then head home to Canada.

Discussing our workplan

Everyone here is very grateful to Aeroplan for sending me here at no cost to them and can't believe a big Canadian company would do such a nice thing. They appreciate that I am here as an additional resource for them.

Our work week is Monday - Friday, with weekends off. We arrive at a good time, as tommorow (Friday) is a Fiesta which means there will be no work. Each barangay (villages that form the municipalities) have their own Fiesta celebrating their local patron saint. It's a time to visit and eat...and then visit and eat some more. They also set up a market selling crafts and other items which we visited our first evening...




Sorsogon province is home to the Pili nut, which is indiginous only to this region. Here, at the market, a stand of local Pili nut producers, some of whom received previous assistance from a CESO volunteer advisor.




We were able to sample the raw nuts, as well as home baking. All of it delicious. The Pili nut most resembles the macadamia nut as far as flavor goes. It is absolutely delicious. Our favorite item was the chocolate covered pili nut. I think there was toffee in it as well - delicious! I'll definitely be bringing some of these home.